Story Highlights

For nearly three decades, HomeAway vacation rentals have provided traveling families with a place to call home while visiting Nashville-area destinations.

These travelers – the average HomeAway customer being a 50-year-old woman traveling with a family of four – love the ability to gather friends and family together for special weekends and getaways. Local homeowners and small businesses have opened their doors to families from across the nation and globe, and in turn, neighborhood economies have flourished.

When the Metro Council took the prudent step of formally recognizing and regulating short-term rentals in 2015, many homeowners saw an opportunity to fix up their own properties in hopes that the income would help to cover bills, save for their children’s education and plan for retirement.

Since that time, active stakeholder groups and a professional neighborhood association have gathered together to share their experiences with short-term rentals, their concerns with the activity and the positive impacts they have on the Nashville community. As such, local homeowners who have listed their homes are active participants in these conversations – and HomeAway stands firmly behind our partners in seeking a fair and effective ordinance.

Throughout the process, HomeAway has heard from community stakeholders and offered solutions to Council members in order to come to a workable policy for all. It’s our hope that a resolution can be reached that doesn’t call for an outright ban of traditional vacation rentals, and that can enforce a fair registration program for the city’s longstanding vacation rental participants.

Currently, there is an ordinance drafted by the ad hoc committee created by Vice Mayor David Briley and chaired by Councilman at-Large Jim Shulman, both of whom seem genuinely interested in finding a long-term solution. As a result of this pursuit and to address concerns of residents, additional limitations have been proposed for current usage and future growth of short-term rentals, about which we have expressed strong concerns.

In particular, we are concerned that a 1 percent cap on non-owner-occupied homes in certain zones, excessive distance limitation of 1,320-foot radius for non-owner-occupied homes, lower occupancy capped at 10 maximum regardless of the size of a home and additional administrative enhancements related to the application and permitting process will harm the many responsible renters who have used HomeAway platforms to welcome families to town.

The fact is that Nashville is facing a myriad of issues related to growth, and critics of short-term rentals view property owners as the main culprits. Affordable housing is an issue all Nashvillians must be concerned about — including those engaged in the vacation rental industry. But to say short-term rentals are the root cause is disingenuous at best. Registered rentals in Nashville make up less than 1 percent of the housing stock. Let me say this again: Less than 1 percent.

We have heard from voices in every corner of Nashville. We’ve heard not only from our partners, but also the small businesses, music venues and restaurants that weave together the fabric of Nashville’s community. The message has been loud and clear: Address the bad actors, but protect the longstanding whole-home vacation rental community here in Nashville.

HomeAway looks forward to a policy solution that enables homeowners with the ability to continue providing families with incredible vacation experiences for decades to come.

Philip Minardi is the director of Policy Communications for HomeAway.

Philip Minardi(Photo: Submitted)

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Short-term rentals, like Airbnb, HomeAway and VRBO (a branch of HomeAway), have caused controversy in Nashville. Some believe they benefit the city. Others feel like they are hurting neighborhoods.
Ayrika Whitney/USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee